Convertible furniture

ABSTRACT

A convertible furniture includes first and second furniture parts with a frame, end supports, a bed and a table part. Pivoting means between the furniture parts guide movement between a table position and a bed position. An openable table lock with first and second locking member secures the furniture parts in the table position, and when opened, allow movement of the furniture parts towards the bed position. The table lock is operated with an elongated shaft supported on the first or the second furniture part. A first end of the shaft is connected to the first and/or second locking member. The shaft extends past the first or second bed towards a second edge of the table part. The second end is manually engaged by a user situated by the second edge. The shaft is moved in the direction of the plane of the first or second table part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to a convertiblefurniture, i.e. a piece of furniture which can be changed into anotherpiece of furniture. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments areespecially related to a furniture which can be converted from a bed to atable and vice versa.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Patent publications U.S. Pat. No. 60,339 A, HU 195416 B, FR 1420300 A,U.S. Pat. Nos. 277,637 A and 4,277,856 A show pieces of furniture thatcan be arranged either as a table or as a bed. The prior art solutionsare complex and difficult to use.

OBJECT

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are directed to to reduce oreven eliminate the abovementioned problems appearing in prior art.

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments provide an easy and reliableway to secure furniture parts immovable when needed and to allow theirmovement when needed.

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments enable an easy and reliablemovement of furniture parts when converting the furniture from a bed toa table and vice versa.

SUMMARY

Among others, in order to realize the aspects of the disclosedembodiments mentioned above, a convertible furniture and other objectsaccording to the present disclosure are characterized by what ispresented in the enclosed independent claims. The dependent claimspresent some embodiments of the present disclosure.

The embodiments, examples and advantages mentioned in this text relate,where applicable, as well to convertible furniture or any methods whenusing it, as to any other aspect of the disclosed embodiments, eventhough it is not always specifically mentioned.

A simple way to describe the basic idea of the present disclosure is,that a convertible furniture comprises

-   -   a first furniture part comprising a frame with end supports,        such as panels and thereto supported a bed and a table part;    -   a second furniture part comprising a frame with end supports,        such as panels and thereto supported a bed and a table part;    -   pivoting means, such as hinges, rails and gas springs between        the furniture parts, arranged to guide their movement between at        least a table position and a bed position, the pivoting means        may be attached e.g. to the end supports;    -   an openable table lock arranged to secure the furniture parts in        the table position and when opened, allowing movement of the        furniture parts towards the bed position.

The inventiveness of this basic idea can be enhanced e.g. by adding toit one or more of the following technical ideas:

-   1) The lock is used with an elongated actuator i.e. a shaft    operatively connected to the lock; the shaft is supported movable on    a furniture part, e.g. below a table part, and adapted to be moved    only, or at least mainly, in the direction of the plane of the table    part. The shaft may extend from the lock at the middle of the table    and past the bed under the table part all the way close to the outer    edge of the table part. E.g. a sideways turnable relatively long    lever facilitates the use of the lock. The shaft may be a lever    turning around a pivot point. These features make the opening and    closing of the table lock easy and reliable.-   2) One or more wheels are attached to the end supports. The wheels    may be partly hidden, i.e. only a part of the wheel is visible, i.e.    the wheels protrude over an edge or one or more edges of the end    support. The wheels ease the movement of the furniture against a    floor or other support beneath it. Advantageously these wheels are    situated in table position at the lower outer corner of the end    supports. More advantageously the wheels are at the corners but    protrude only over vertical end support edges.-   3) The pivoting means between the furniture parts are constructed in    such a way that in bed position, no part or no moving part of the    pivoting means reaches over the upper edges of the end supports.    This makes the use of the furniture safe and comfortable.-   4) Movable extra supports to be engaged with the floor or other    support are arranged under a table part e.g. on to the end support.    When preparing to move the furniture into bed position, the support    is engaged with the end support edge that is meant against the floor    in bed position. Now, the support will engage the floor. The weight    of the furniture in bed position rests on possible wheels and at    least partly on the extra supports. There may be more of these extra    supports on different points of the furniture.-   5) One or more support plates may be attached to the end supports of    the furniture parts. Support plates are separate of the end    supports, made e.g. of metal or plastic. Each support plate may    support a wheel and the pivoting means. A support plate may be    attached at and along an edge of the end support. A support plate    may form an edge of the end support. In table position the support    plates may be situated at the mainly horizontal lower edges of the    end supports.

The listed technical ideas and many more embodiments are explained indetail below, also in reference to the drawings. All the ideas arecombinable with each other, also in ways not separately mentioned.

An embodiment of a typical convertible furniture according to thepresent disclosure comprises

-   -   a first furniture part comprising a first frame with a first and        a second end support and thereto supported a first bed and a        first table part;    -   a second furniture part comprising a second frame with a first        and a second end support and thereto supported a second bed and        a second table part;    -   pivoting means, such as hinges, rails or gas springs, between        the first furniture part and the second furniture part arranged        to guide their movement between at least        -   a table position, where the first and second table parts are            arranged horizontally, thereby forming a horizontal table            surface and the beds are unusable; and        -   a bed position, where the beds are usable, and the table            parts are not usable;    -   a table lock arranged to secure the first and second furniture        parts in the table position and adapted to be moved with an        actuator between        -   a locked position, securing the furniture parts in the table            position and        -   an open position, allowing movement of the furniture parts            towards the bed position.

The actuator is an elongated shaft connected to the table lock. Theshaft is:

-   -   supported on the first or the second furniture part; and    -   adapted to be moved in the direction of the plane of the first        or second table part.        In an embodiment the table lock comprises a first and a second        locking member situated on different furniture parts. The first        and second locking members are adapted to be moved between    -   a locked position, where the locking members are interlocked        with each other, thereby securing the furniture parts in the        table position and    -   an open position, where the locking members are not interlocked        with each other, thereby allowing movement of the furniture        parts towards the bed position.

In an embodiment the elongated shaft is connected to the first or secondlocking member. This makes it easy to move one or more of the lockingmembers between the locked position and the open position, even with asmall gesture or movement a distance away from the actual lockingmechanism.

The table lock may be manually or automatically operable. In anembodiment, the lock is a is a simple latch. A latch can be opened andclosed with a simple movement, e.g. manually with a lever.

The first and second table parts are in their general form more or lessplanar. The plane of the first or second table part is the generalplane's direction. In table position that plane would normally be thedirection of the table surface, i.e. horizontal.

In an embodiment, in the table position:

-   -   the upper surfaces of the first and second table parts are        arranged substantially flush with each other, thereby forming        the horizontal table surface; and    -   the first and second beds are arranged mainly vertical and        unusable under the table parts; whereas        in the bed position:    -   the first and second beds are arranged horizontal and usable;        and    -   the first and second table parts are arranged as vertical sides        of the beds.

In an embodiment the table parts comprise at least mainly parallel firstand second edges. The first edges are in the table position against eachother at the middle of the table surface, and in bed position arrangedas upper edges of the sides of the beds. The second edges are in thetable position arranged as outer edges of the table surface, and in bedposition arranged as lower edges of the sides of the beds. In anembodiment the first and second locking members are situated at thefirst edges of the table parts. This way in the table position they areagainst each other at the middle of the table and in bed position theyare arranged on top edges of the sides of the beds.

The elongated shaft may be supported on an inner surface of the first orsecond table parts, i.e. in table position on the lower surface of thetable part. This way it stays mostly hidden during normal use of thefurniture.

The elongated shaft may be movably arranged in a space between the tablepart and the bed of the furniture part. This makes it possible for auser to easily reach the shaft from outside the table.

In an embodiment a first end of the elongated shaft is connected to thefirst and/or second locking member. The shaft then extends from therepast the first or second bed and towards the second edge of the tablepart. There the second end of the elongated shaft is arranged to bemanually and easily engaged by a user situated by the second edge.

The elongated shaft may be made of different materials and in differentsizes and forms. Metals, such as aluminium or steel, plastics, wood aresome examples of possible materials. The length of the shaft may varydepending on the situation, e.g. more than 20 cm, more than 30 cm, 20 to40 cm, 20 to 50 cm are possible. Suitable shaft length is decidedespecially by the width of the table part it is mounted on.

The elongated shaft is a way to transmit power to be used at the lockfrom near the outer edges of the table. The shaft may be formed as a rodor another kind of rigid component. It is also possible that the shaftcomprises an outer core or shell and a wire or another flexible shaft orbelt inside it for power transmission.

In an embodiment each table part is arranged perpendicularly to its endsupports. Each end support functions in table position as a verticalsupport against a floor and in bed position as a vertical bed end. Ifthe table part and end supports are fixed together firmly, simply andimmovably relative to each other, the frame becomes robust and easy toarrange to withstand the movements of the furniture.

Some possible dimensions for the furniture are as follows. In tableposition:

-   -   Table part length 160-220 cm (in bed direction, i.e. direction        between end supports)    -   Table part width 30-60 cm (in direction between its first and        second edge)    -   Table height 60-100 cm;        In bed position:    -   Bed length 160-220 cm (in bed direction)    -   Bed width 120-200 cm (double bed)    -   Bed height 30-60 cm.

Some possible materials for the different plate-like parts or panels inthe furniture, such as table parts and end supports, are wood, plastic,honeycomb panels or other cellular panels. Panel surfaces may be coated,e.g. with thin wood or plastic layer.

In an embodiment the furniture comprises two at least almost similarfurniture parts. The furniture parts maybe near mirror images. Thefurniture parts each comprise a frame, which comprises two end supports,such as generally planar vertical panels and a generally planar tablepart, forming half of the whole table surface supported between the endsupports. A bed is supported on the frame, possibly immovably. The twoframes are attached to each other pivotably, to be turned around aturning axle, defined e.g. by hinges. The turning axle of the pivotingmovement is horizontally at the bottom of the furniture, near or at itscentre line. The frames can be turned against each other in the tableposition where the table parts are horizontally on the top, supported byvertical end supports and the bed is vertically under the table part.From there the both frames can be turned 90 degrees, into the bedposition. In bed position the two frames, i.e. the end supports and thetable parts form vertical sides for the now horizontal beds. There is noneed to have a fourth side for the bed in a frame, because in bedposition the two frames lie side by side, forming a double bed withpanels around it, but without a panel between the two beds.

One way to define the inventive conversion movement of the furniturebetween the table and bed positions is to define what happens to theedges of the mainly planar end supports in the two furniture positions.Each end support comprises an outer and inner larger surface parallel toeach other and vertical during normal use of the furniture. The outerand inner surfaces are connected by edges, as follows:

-   -   a first end support edge, which is arranged        -   in table position mainly vertical and situated towards the            other frame;        -   in bed position as a mainly horizontal upper edge of the bed            end;    -   a second end support edge, which is arranged        -   in table position mainly vertical and situated away from the            other frame;        -   in bed position as a mainly horizontal lower edge of the bed            end;    -   a third end support edge, which is arranged        -   in table position as a mainly horizontal lower edge of the            vertical support against a floor;        -   in bed position mainly vertical and situated towards the            other frame;    -   a fourth end support edge, which is arranged        -   in table position as a mainly horizontal upper edge of the            vertical support, supporting the table part on top of it;        -   in bed position as mainly vertical and situated away from            the other frame.

An embodiment of a typical convertible furniture according to thepresent disclosure comprises

-   -   a first furniture part comprising a first frame with a first and        a second end support and thereto supported a first bed and a        first table part;    -   a second furniture part comprising a second frame with a first        and a second end support and thereto supported a second bed and        a second table part;    -   pivoting means, such as hinges, rails or gas springs, between        the first furniture part and the second furniture part arranged        to guide their movement between at least        -   a table position, where the first and second table parts are            arranged horizontally, thereby forming a horizontal table            surface and the beds are unusable; and        -   a bed position, where the beds are usable, and the table            parts are not usable;    -   a table lock arranged to secure the first and second furniture        parts in the table position and adapted to be moved with an        actuator between        -   a locked position, securing the furniture parts in the table            position and        -   an open position, allowing movement of the furniture parts            towards the bed position.

The pivoting means between the furniture parts may be constructed insuch a way that in bed position, every part or every movable part of thepivoting means is arranged under the upper edges of the end supports.This makes the use of the furniture safe and comfortable.

In an embodiment, in table position, every part or every movable part ofthe pivoting means is arranged over the lower edges of the end supports.This makes the use of the furniture safe and comfortable and protectsthe floor or any support under the furniture.

In an embodiment every part or every movable part of the pivoting meansis arranged both under the upper edges of the end supports and over thelower edges of the end supports during the whole movement between thebed and table positions. In an embodiment every part or every movingpart of the pivoting means is arranged to stay between the edges of theend supports during the whole movement between the bed and tablepositions.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a method with the convertiblefurniture according to the present disclosure. In an embodiment themethod comprises

-   -   moving a first and a second furniture part between at least a        bed position and a table position, each furniture part        comprising two end supports and thereto supported a bed and a        table part;    -   guiding said moving with pivoting means between the first        furniture part and the second furniture part;    -   in bed position, keeping every part or every movable part of the        pivoting means under upper edges of the end supports; and/or    -   in table position, keeping every part or every moving part of        the pivoting means over lower edges of the end supports.

In an embodiment the pivoting means are turnably supported to the endsupports of the furniture parts. Turnably supported means that thepivoting means allows turning or moving of the furniture parts betweenthe table and bed positions. In an embodiment, e.g. in case of a hingearm or a gas spring, one end of the pivoting means is supported on anend support of one furniture part and the other end of the pivotingmeans is supported on an end support of a second furniture part. In anembodiment the pivoting means is attached at or near an edge of the endsupport. In an embodiment in table position the pivoting means isattached on or near the edge that is the mainly horizontal lower edge ofthe end support.

One way to achieve the above-mentioned smooth movement of the furnitureparts and the pivoting means is to arrange the pivot point or the pointof rotation of the hinge structure slightly outside the end supports ofthe furniture parts. With this kind of a virtual pivot point arrangementno physical parts are needed at the pivot point P, i.e. situated outsidethe furniture parts. Now, no part of the pivoting means interferes withthe floor or protrudes up from the table surface. This can be achievede.g. with a hinge structure comprising two hinge arms on both ends ofthe furniture with fastening points of the hinge arms locatedsymmetrically on the furniture part.

In an embodiment in table position, the hinge arms are arranged crossedwith each other, i.e. one arm is attached at an upper position in thefirst furniture part and at a lower position in the second furniturepart, whereas the other arm is attached at an upper position in thesecond furniture part and at a lower position in the first furniturepart. In an embodiment in bed position, the hinge arms are arrangedhorizontally, at the same level with each other, i.e. the fastening orpivot points of the two hinge arms are at same level.

The hinge structure is an important if not the main support structurebetween the two halves of the furniture when they are moved between thetable and bed positions. Strength and robustness of the hinge arms isimportant. They may be made e.g. of a metal such as steel, plastic orsome other suitable material.

All the pivoting means, such as the hinges or gas springs, as well asthe wheels need to be robust enough to support movement of the furnitureparts. Also, the supporting of these parts to the furniture parts needsto similarly robust. One good possibility is to arrange them supportedon one or more relatively large support plates, which are easy to attache.g. on the end supports of the furniture parts. The support plate maybe made of e.g. metal, such as steel or aluminium plate or any suitableplastic or composite material. Every piece of pivoting means, e.g.hinges or gas springs may have their own support plates on eachfurniture part. Also, each wheel may be supported on its own supportplate.

The support plate structure gives the furniture robust structure, highstrength, easy assembly and increased accuracy in its movements. In anembodiment each support plate supports a wheel and pivoting means.Attaching all pivoting means and wheels of one end support to one largesupport plate enhances the benefits.

In an embodiment the support plate is attached at and along an edge ofthe end support. This strengthens the edge and simplifies the structure.In an embodiment in table position the support plates are at the mainlyhorizontal lower edges of the end supports. This strengthens the loweredge and makes it easy to arrange wheels on the support plate. In anembodiment the support plates are of the same length and form as edgesof the end supports they are attached to. This further strengthens andsimplifies the structure.

In an embodiment one or more wheels are attached to the end supports. Inan embodiment the wheels are partly hidden in the end supports. Thewheels may be supported and arranged between the inner and outer facesof the end support. In an embodiment the wheels are situated so that inthe table position they are at the lower outer corner of the endsupports. In an embodiment in table position the wheels protrude onlyover vertical end support edges. In an embodiment in table position thewheels protrude over both vertical and horizontal end support edges. Inan embodiment the wheels are arranged as the point of contact betweenthe furniture and a floor or other support it is situated on, at anygiven stage of the movement between bed and table positions. The wheelsease the movement of the furniture against a floor or other supportbeneath it.

In an embodiment the wheels are attached to support plates which areattached to the end supports of the furniture parts. In an embodimentthe wheels are simple castors, i.e. rollers mounted to an axle pin. Oneend of the axle pin may be firmly attached, e.g. by welding, on thesupport plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are described in more detailbelow with reference to the enclosed schematic drawing, in which

FIG. 1 shows a convertible furniture according to the present disclosurein table position in a side view from above the furniture,

FIG. 2 shows the furniture of FIG. 1 during movement between the tableand bed positions,

FIG. 3 shows the furniture of FIG. 1 in bed position,

FIG. 4 shows the furniture of FIG. 1 in table position in a perspectiveview from above the furniture,

FIG. 5 shows the furniture of FIG. 1 in bed position in a perspectiveview from above the furniture,

FIG. 6 shows the locking mechanism of a furniture according to thepresent disclosure in table position in a partly cut view from above thefurniture, the locking mechanism in open position,

FIG. 7 shows the locking mechanism of FIG. 6 in locked position,

FIG. 8 shows an outer top corner of a furniture according to the presentdisclosure in table position, in a perspective view from below, with anextra support not engaged,

FIG. 9 shows the top corner of FIG. 8 with the extra support engaged,

FIG. 10 shows support plates of one furniture end in table position,

FIG. 11 shows the support plates of FIG. 10 in bed position, and

FIG. 12 shows a lower part of an end support with a wheel in bedposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE FIGURES

For the sake of clarity, in different embodiments same referencenumerals are used for parts corresponding to each other. For the sake ofclarity, every part and feature has not been numbered in every Figure.

A convertible furniture 1 comprises a first and a second furniture part2 a and 2 b. Each of these comprises a frame 11 a, 11 b and theretosupported a bed 3 a, 3 b and a table part 4 a, 4 b. The depictedfurniture parts 2 a and 2 b are almost mirror images of each other. Insome embodiments there might be bigger differences between the furnitureparts.

Pivoting means, i.e. hinges 5 a and gas springs 5 b are arranged betweenthe first and second furniture parts 2 a and 2 b. They guide and assistthe movement of the furniture parts between a table position and a bedposition. The pivoting means 5 a and 5 b are attached to the first andsecond end supports, i.e. end panels 12 a, 12 b of the first and secondfurniture part.

In the table position, shown e.g. in FIGS. 1 and 4, the frames arestanding on their side panels and arranged against each other. The sidepanels of the frames now on the top are the table parts 4 a and 4 b.They are now horizontally arranged and substantially flush with eachother, forming a horizontal table surface 4 at the top of the furniture.At the same time, the beds 3 a and 3 b are arranged sideways inside theframes. In other words, the beds are in a vertical position under thetable parts, and therefore unusable.

When moving from the table position to the bed position, the tops of thefurniture parts 2 a and 2 b are turned away from each other, see FIG. 2.The table surface 4 opens at its centre line between the two table parts4 a and 4 b. As the frames are turned more and more towards thehorizontal, the beds become more and more visible. Finally, as showne.g. in FIGS. 3 and 5, the furniture is in bed position. This means thatthe frames 11 a and 11 b and in them the beds 3 a and 3 b are in ahorizontal position. Beds are usable. At the same time, the table parts4 a and 4 b have become side panels for the beds. This means that theyare not usable.

The table parts 4 a, 4 b comprise first edges 7 a, 7 b and second edges8 a, 8 b parallel to each other, on the opposite sides of the tableparts. The first edges 7 a, 7 b are in the table position against eachother at the middle of the table surface 4. In bed position the firstedges are arranged as upper edges of the sides of the beds. The secondedges 8 a, 8 b are in the table position arranged as outer edges of thetable surface 4, and in bed position they are arranged as lower edges ofthe sides of the beds.

Each frame 11 a, 11 b comprises a first and a second end panel 12 a, 12b.

Each table part 4 a, 4 b is arranged perpendicularly between its endpanels, whereby each end panel 12 a, 12 b functions in table position asa vertical support against a floor and in bed position as a vertical bedend. In the depicted embodiment, each end panel 12 a, 12 b comprisesfour edges. A first end panel edge 131 is in table position mainlyvertical and situated towards the other frame. In bed position the firstend panel edge 131 is a mainly horizontal upper edge of the bed end. Asecond end panel edge 132 is in table position mainly vertical andsituated facing away from the other frame. In bed position second endpanel edge 132 is a mainly horizontal lower edge of the bed end. A thirdend panel edge 133 is in table position a mainly horizontal lower edgeof the vertical support against a floor. In bed position third end paneledge 133 is mainly vertical and situated towards the other frame. Afourth end panel edge 134 is in table position a mainly horizontal upperedge of the vertical support, supporting the table part 4 a or 4 b ontop of it. In bed position the fourth end panel edge 134 is mainlyvertical and situated away from the other frame. In this example thefirst and second panel edges are substantially parallel to each other.Similarly, the third and fourth panel edges are substantially parallelto each other, but perpendicular against the first and second. Thismeans that in the depicted embodiment the end panels 12 a, 12 b areformed as a substantial rectangle, with rounded corners. This needs notto be the case; the furniture can be designed in many forms.

To keep the furniture parts 2 a, 2 b safely in the table position, aneasily operated table lock 6 is arranged between the frames 11 a, 11 b.In a locked position, the table lock secures the furniture partstogether. In an open position the table lock allows the movement of thefurniture parts 2 a, 2 b towards the bed position. The table lock 6,seen e.g. in FIGS. 6 and 7, comprises a first locking member 6 a on thefirst table part 4 a and a second locking member 6 b on the second tablepart 4 b. The locking members 6 a, 6 b are situated at or near the firstedges 7 a, 7 b of the table parts so that in the table position they areagainst or very near to each other at the middle of the table. In bedposition the locking members are arranged on top edges of the sides ofthe beds.

In the depicted embodiments the table lock is a simple latch, with asteel arc 6 a, i.e. an arc-shaped steel form, as the first lockingmember and a pin 6 b as the second locking member. The steel arc 6 a canbe turned in the direction of the plane of the first table part 4 a itis arranged on. When the two table parts 4 a and 4 b are in contact witheach other, the steel arc 6 a may be turned to reach around and behindthe pin 6 b, thereby interlocking the steel arc 6 a and the pin 6 b witheach other. This means the table lock 6 is in locking position and thefurniture parts 2 a, 2 b are secured in the table position. When turningthe arc 6 a so, that the opening in the arc 6 a is towards the pin 6 bthe table lock 6 is in open position. Now the furniture parts 2 a, 2 bmay be turned away from each other.

To ease the functioning of the table lock 6, a lock actuator, i.e. anelongated shaft 6 c is connected at its first end 9 a to the steel arc 6a. The shaft 6 c is a lever adapted to be turned in the direction of theplane of the first table part 4 a. Turning the shaft 6 c moves the steelarc 6 a and thus the table lock 6 between the locked and open positions.That means that in table position the table lock is opened and securedby turning the shaft 6 c horizontally near and under the first tablepart 4 a. The shaft 6 c is supported on the inner surface 10 a of thefirst table part 4 a with a pivot point 13. The second end 9 b of theelongated shaft 6 c is arranged towards the second edge 8 a of the firsttable part 4 a. The shaft 6 c extends, from the table lock 6 past thebed 3 a, which is arranged under the table part 4 a, towards the secondedge 8 a of the table part. The second end 9 b of the shaft may comprisea handle, where it can be manually engaged by a user, simply by reachingher/his arm under the second edge 8 a of the table part. The shaft 6 cis adapted to move close to the inner surface 10 a. This way it isfreely movable in the small gap between the first table part 4 a and thefirst bed 3 a situated under the table part. A recess may be formed inthe side of the bed to make more space for the shaft to move. Onepossibility is to arrange the elongated shaft at least partly inside thetable part. This may be done e.g. by forming a suitable open recess onthe inner surface 10 a of the table part 4 a. The shaft 6 c may also besituated totally or almost totally inside the table part 4 a, so thatonly the second end of it, e.g. a handle is visible and ready to beengaged with a hand.

In order to ease movement of the furniture against a floor beneath itduring the conversion between the table position and the bed position,one or more partly hidden wheels 14 a and 14 b can be attached to theend panels 12 a, 12 b. The wheels may e.g. be arranged mostly or partlyinside the end panels 12 a, 12 b so that just a part of each wheel 14 a,14 b is protruding over an edge of the end panel. It may be advantageousto arrange the one or more wheels 14 a, 14 b at the corners which arethe outer and lower corners in the table position. That is, the cornerswhere the second and third end panel edges 132 and 133 meet. A wheel mayprotrude over only the vertical or both the vertical and horizontalpanel edges 132 and 133. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the corners where suchwheels are positioned are shown with circles. In the depictedembodiments, the wheels 14 a, 14 b are arranged to protrude over thesecond and third end panel edges 132 and 133. The wheel may protrudee.g. under 2 mm, under 5 mm, under 20 mm, 2 to 5 mm, 2 to 10 mm, 5 to 10mm or 2 to 20 mm over the panel edges 132, 133. Extra supports or feetmay be arranged at the panel edge 133 so, that in the table positionwheels 14 a, 14 b are not engaged with the floor, but as soon as themovement towards the bed position starts, the wheels 14 a, 14 b start toengage the floor. This way they facilitate the conversion of thefurniture during practically the whole movement between the twopositions. The wheels 14 a, 14 b may be constructed in many ways. It ispossible to replace all or some wheels by some other movementfacilitating or friction decreasing means, such as plastic glides.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 is shown an outer top corner of the furniture 1 intable position. A turnable extra support 15 is arranged under the tablepart 4 a. In FIG. 8 it is hidden under the table part, against thecorner of end panel 12 and inner surface 10 a of the table part. In thedrawings the support 15 is fixed to the table part 4 a. When preparingto move the furniture into bed position, an outer end 15 b of thesupport 15 is turned around a vertical axis 15 a to be engaged with thesecond end panel edge 132. In the bed position the outer end 15 b of thesupport, situated on the panel edge 132, will engage the floor. On thatedge 132, the thickness of the outer end 15 b of the support may be thesame as the distance the wheels 14 a or 14 b protrude over the paneledge 132, that is, e.g. under 2 mm, under 5 mm, under 20 mm, 2 to 5 mm,2 to 10 mm, 5 to 10 mm or 2 to 20 mm. This way, the weight of thefurniture 1 in bed position rests on the wheels 14 a, 14 b and on theextra support 15. There may be more of these extra supports 15 ondifferent points of the furniture. That would e.g. make it possible toremove all weight from the wheels 14 a, 14 b in bed position. Thesupport 15 may be manufactured e.g. from a suitable plastic. Also fixedfeet or other fixed supports may be arranged in panel edges so that theycontact the floor in table and bed positions. Feet or other supports maygive extra friction between the furniture and the floor in order toprevent the furniture from unwanted moving of the furniture.

Figures show embodiments with two elongated support plates 16 a and 16 bon each end of the furniture. First support plates 16 a are attached tothe end support plates 12 a and 12 b of the first furniture part 2 a.Second support plates 16 b are attached to the end supports 12 a and 12b of the second furniture part 2 b. Each support plate 16 a and 16 bsupports a wheel 14 a or 14 b, one end of the hinge arms 5 a and 5 a′and one end of the gas spring 5 b. The support plates 16 a, 16 b areattached to the end panels 12 a, 12 b with screws or bolts 17.

The support plates are attached at and along the third end panel edges133, on the inside face of the end supports 12 a, 12 b. Thus, in tableposition the support plates 16 a, 16 b are at the mainly horizontallower edge of the vertical support against a floor. And in bed positionthe support plates 16 a, 16 b are mainly vertical and situated towardsthe other frame, and against the support plate on the other frame. Thesupport plates 16 a, 16 b are of the same length and form as the paneledges 133 they are attached to. As a matter of fact, they can be thoughtto form part of the panel edges 133. FIG. 10 shows mere support plates16 a and 16 b with hinge arms 5 a, 5 a′, gas spring 5 b and wheels 14 a,14 b of one furniture end in a table position, and FIG. 11 shows thesame in a bed position.

FIG. 12 shows one example of a wheel 14 b arranged at a corner of secondand third end panel edges 132 and 133. The support plate 16 b isattached at and along the third end panel edge 133, on the inside faceof the end support 12 a. Inside face means the face facing the bed 3 aand the other end support 12 b. The support plate is aligned with andactually forms parts of both the inner face of end support 12 a and thepanel edge 133. The wheel 14 b is supported and arranged between theinner and outer faces of the end support 12 a.

The wheels 14 a, 14 b may be simple castors, i.e. pivoting rollersmounted to an axle pin 19 on the support plate. The design of thesupport plate16 a, 16 b, the diameter of the wheel 14 a, 14 b and theposition of the axle pin 19 can is chosen so that the wheels will be theoutermost point, i.e. the point of contact at any given stage of thetransition between bed and table positions.

One end of the axle pin 19 of the wheel is firmly attached, e.g. bywelding, on the support plate 16. The other end of the axle pin 19 maybe supported e.g. on the end panel 12 a, 12 b. However, the axle pin 19can be dimensioned thicker and of a sufficiently strong material so thatit would not bend even without a support on its other end.

The gas spring 5 b aids the transition between the table and bedpositions.

When moving the furniture between the two positions, the user normallyneeds most power when starting the movement from the bed position towardthe table position. Therefore, the gas springs 5 b may be arranged sothat they provide some or maximum force, i.e. aid for the user whenstarting from bed position. The gas springs 5 b may provide some orminimum force, i.e. smaller aid for the user when starting from tableposition. This would help in avoiding unintentional opening from thetable position.

For a smooth movement of the furniture parts, a pivot point P or thepoint of rotation of the hinge structure may by arranged slightlyoutside the end supports 12 a, 12 b of the furniture parts 2 a, 2 b. Anexample of an approximate position of the pivot point P is shown with anarrow in FIGS. 10 and 11. It would be problematic if the hinge structurewould need any physical parts at the pivot point P, i.e. situatedoutside the furniture parts. This kind of parts would interfere with thefloor or protrude up from the table surface. The hinge according to theFigures doesn't protrude outside the end supports 12 a, 12 b in table orbed position. Hinge structure between the furniture parts 2 a and 2 bcomprises two hinge arms 5 a and 5 a′ on both ends of the furniture. Thehinge is constructed as a double arm hinge with fastening points 18 ofthe hinge arms 5 a and 5 a′ located symmetrically on support plates 16 aand 16 b. In table position, see FIG. 11, the hinge arms 5 a, 5 a′ arearranged crossed with each other, i.e. arm 5 a is attached at an upperposition in the first support plate 16 a and at a lower position in thesecond support plate 16 b, whereas the arm 5 a′ is attached at an upperposition in the second support plate 16 b and at a lower position in thefirst support plate 16 a. In bed position, see FIG. 10, the hinge arms 5a and 5 a′ are arranged horizontally, at the same level with each other,i.e. the fastening or pivot points 18 of the two hinge arms are at samelevel with each other.

The shown hinge structure with two hinge arms 5 a and 5 a′ and fourhinge arm pivot points 18 ensures that turning motion is always thesame.

The hinge arms 5 a and 5 a′ are located on opposite sides of the plates16 a, 16 b to avoid collision with each other. The arms 5 a, 5 b may bemounted with bearings at their fastening points to avoid wear. If thesupport plate 16 a, 16 b is attached at an inner side face of the endsupport 12 a, 12 b, at least some of the movable pivoting means, e.g.one of the hinge arms, may need a cavity inside the end support 12 a, 12b, to provide space for its moving. Also the wheels 14 a, 14 b need acavity inside the end support 12 a, 12 b.

The hinge structure is an important if not the main support structurebetween the two halves of the furniture when they are moved between thetable and bed positions. Strength and robustness of the hinge arms 5 aand 5 a′ is therefore important. They may be made of a metal such assteel, plastic or some other suitable material.

Feet or other supports may be arranged in panel edges so that theycontact the floor in table and bed positions. These feet or othersupports may give extra friction between the furniture and the floor inorder to prevent the furniture from unwanted rolling.

The figures show only a few preferred embodiments according to thepresent disclosure. Facts of secondary importance with regards to themain idea of the present disclosure, facts known as such or evident fora person skilled in the art, such as support structures possiblyrequired by the present disclosure, are not necessarily separately shownin the figures. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that thepresent disclosure is not limited exclusively to the examples describedabove, but that the present disclosure can vary within the scope of theclaims presented below. The dependent claims are not to be considered torestrict the scope of protection of the present disclosure as such.

1. A convertible furniture, comprising a first furniture part comprisinga first frame with a first and a second end support and theretosupported a first bed and a first table part; a second furniture partcomprising a second frame with a first and a second end support andthereto supported a second bed and a second table part; pivoting meansbetween the first furniture part and the second furniture part arrangedto guide their movement between at least a table position, where thefirst and second table parts are arranged horizontally, thereby forminga horizontal table surface, and the beds are unusable; and a bedposition, where the beds are usable, and the table parts are not usable;a table lock arranged to secure the first and second furniture parts inthe table position and comprising a first locking member on the firstfurniture part and a second locking member on the second furniture part,and adapted to be moved with an actuator between a locked position,where the locking members (6 a, 6 b) are interlocked with each other,thereby securing the furniture parts (2 a, 2 b) in the table positionand an open position, where the locking members (6 a, 6 b) are notinterlocked with each other, thereby allowing movement of the furnitureparts (2 a, 2 b) towards the bed position; whereby the actuator is anelongated shaft (6 c), which shaft is: connected to the table lock (6);supported on the first or the second furniture part (2 a, 2 b); adaptedto be moved in the direction of the plane of the first or second tablepart (4 a, 4 b); whereby the table parts comprise at least mainlyparallel first edges which are in the table position against each otherat the middle of the table surface, and in bed position are arranged asupper edges of the sides of the beds; and second edges which are in thetable position arranged as outer edges of the table surface, and in bedposition are arranged as lower edges of the sides of the beds, wherein afirst end of the elongated shaft is connected to the first and/or secondlocking member and shaft is arranged to extend from there past the firstor second bed and towards the second edge of the table part, whereby intable position the second end of the elongated shaft is arranged to bemanually engaged by a user situated by the second edge.
 2. Theconvertible furniture according to claim 1, wherein in the tableposition: the upper surfaces of the first and second table parts arearranged substantially flush with each other, thereby forming thehorizontal table surface; and the first and second beds are arrangedmainly vertical and unusable under the table parts; whereas in the bedposition: the first and second beds are arranged horizontal and usable;and the first and second table parts are arranged as vertical sides ofthe beds.
 3. The convertible furniture according to claim 1, wherein thefirst and second locking members are situated at the first edges of thetable parts so that in the table position they are against each other atthe middle of the table and in bed position they are arranged on topedges of the sides of the beds.
 4. The convertible furniture accordingto claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft is or comprises a lever adaptedto be turned in the direction of the plane of the table surface around apivot point.
 5. The convertible furniture according to claim 1, whereinthe elongated shaft is supported on an inner surface of the first orsecond table parts.
 6. The convertible furniture according to claim 1,wherein the elongated shaft is arranged and movable between a table partand a bed of a furniture part.
 7. The convertible furniture according toclaim 1, wherein each table part is arranged perpendicularly to its endsupports, whereby each end support functions in table position as avertical support against a floor and in bed position as a vertical bedend.
 8. The convertible furniture according to claim 7, wherein each endsupport of a frame comprises a first end support edge, which is arrangedin table position mainly vertical and situated towards the other frame;in bed position as a mainly horizontal upper edge of the bed end; asecond end support edge, which is arranged in table position mainlyvertical and situated away from the other frame; in bed position as amainly horizontal lower edge of the bed end; a third end support edge,which is arranged in table position as a mainly horizontal lower edge ofthe vertical support against a floor; in bed position mainly verticaland situated towards the other frame; a fourth end support edge, whichis arranged in table position as a mainly horizontal upper edge of thevertical support, supporting the table part on top of it; in bedposition as mainly vertical and situated away from the other frame. 9.The convertible furniture according to claim 1, wherein one or morepartly hidden wheels attached to the end supports, a part of the wheelsprotruding over at least one, or one or two edges of the end support inorder to ease movement of the furniture against a floor beneath it. 10.The convertible furniture according to claim 9, wherein the one or morewheels are arranged at the corner where the second and third end supportedges meet; and/or to protrude only over the second end support edge.11. The convertible furniture according to claim 9, wherein the one ormore wheels are arranged mostly or partly inside the end panels.
 12. Theconvertible furniture according to claim 9, wherein the wheel isarranged as the point of contact between the furniture and a floor atany given stage of the movement between bed and table positions.
 13. Theconvertible furniture according to claim 9, wherein the wheel isattached to a support plate which is attached to the end support of thefurniture part, whereby the support plate supports the wheel and thepivoting means. 14-16. (canceled)
 17. The convertible furnitureaccording to claim 1, wherein a movable extra support is arranged underthe table part and fixed to the table part and/or to the end support,whereby at least a part of the extra support is movable onto an endsupport edge or onto a table part edge, so that in the bed position thesecond end of the extra support, situated on the edge, is arranged toengage the floor.
 18. The convertible furniture according to claim 17,wherein the at least a part of the extra support is movable onto thesecond end support edge or onto the second table part edge.
 19. Theconvertible furniture according to claim 18, wherein when preparing tomove the furniture into bed position, an outer end of the extra supportis turned around a vertical axis to be engaged with the second end paneledge.
 20. The convertible furniture according to claim 1, wherein in bedposition, every part or every moving part of the pivoting means isarranged under upper edges of the end supports; and/or in tableposition, every part or every moving part of the pivoting means isarranged over lower edges of the end supports. 21-23. (canceled)
 24. Theconvertible furniture according to claim 1, wherein pivot point (P) ofthe hinge structure is arranged outside the end supports of thefurniture parts.
 25. The convertible furniture according to claim 1,wherein the pivoting means comprises two hinge arms on both ends of thefurniture, each arm attached turnably on the first and the secondfurniture parts, whereby fastening points of the hinge arms are locatedsymmetrically on the furniture parts. 26-30. (canceled)
 31. A methodwith a convertible furniture according to claim 1, the method comprisingmoving a first and a second furniture part between at least a bedposition and a table position, each furniture part comprising two endsupports and thereto supported a bed and a table part; guiding saidmoving with pivoting means between the first furniture part and thesecond furniture part; in bed position, keeping every part or everymovable part of the pivoting means under upper edges of the endsupports; and/or in table position, keeping every part or every movingpart of the pivoting means over lower edges of the end supports.